This “putting off the old” and “putting on the new” has recently taken on new meaning for me. The best analogy I can come up with in order to blog this in order to bring it up again is that of a thief. If a person steals and suddenly has an awakening followed by honesty and action…and hopefully in the process a coming to the realization that Jesus is their savior…and they stop stealing. We are glad.
However, they have only done the “putting off” of the old behavior…what is really miraculous is when we begin to truly see God and the Holy Spirit’s work in them…and they begin to give…now they have “put on” the new behavior.
So it is not enough to just “take off” the old self…we have to “put on” the new self as well.
As an addict and alcoholic I feel blessed that I am given a constant daily reminder that I have to wax on and wax off. I can “take off” drunkenness, but when I start to “put on” sobriety I realize I will never be done. and the fact that my addiction can come back at any time serves as a good reminder to practice my spiritual fitness daily…and moment to moment.
M48
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